A form of poetry inspired by the news was born here in Chicago when Gwendolyn Brooks coined the term “verse journalism.” Another gifted local poet, Quraysh Ali Lansana, taught the form to adult participants in a Neighborhood Writing Alliance special workshop series. Lansana had NWA writers turn their opinions and reactions to news events into poems, which WBEZ will present throughout the month of April in celebration of National Poetry Month. This series was recorded in collaboration with the Neighborhood Writing Alliance, a station partner.

Poet Delores Tolliver was inspired to write her piece about a personal experience. In 2006 she had been walking in Hyde Park, feeling safe and secure. She writes: “The buildings in Hyde Park are tall and well-structured towering over the community like a coat of armor.”

Poet Donna Pecore of Jefferson Park/Albany Park reflected on an article published in her neighborhood paper, The Nadig Press, after she was surprised to learn a shooting had taken place in her neighborhood.

Poet Phyllis Roker of South Shore also wrote about the death of 11-year-old Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, executed by fellow gang members who feared he could be turned against them after he allegedly committed murder. Phyllis was impacted by the amount of violence in Sandifer’s young life and felt he “never had a chance to dream, or even know what a dream was.”

Poet Kee Humphrey of Hyde Park has been haunted for nearly 20 years by a TIME magazine cover that she felt was “a stain on Chicago” and an example of a broken child welfare system. In August 1994, 11-year-old Robert “Yummy” Sandifer was executed by fellow gang members who feared he could be turned against them after he allegedly committed murder.

Poet Sharon Warner of Bronzeville chose to write her piece for this project on the tragic school shooting that took place on February 27, 2012, at Chardon High School in Chardon, Ohio. In the late ‘90s, Sharon had written about the Columbine High School shooting and was led to explore the subject again here.

Poet Rachael Hudak of Uptown chose to write about a sexual assault that took place on New Year’s Eve outside of the Congress Theater. The assault drew protests from Logan Square residents and Rape Victim Advocates, who rallied the community together against victim blaming. Moved by these protests, and saddened by the violence of the crime, Rachel chose to address these issues in her piece.